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Delegation Leader: Fred Pinto, R.P.F.
Past President, Canadian Institute of Forestry
Program Dates: April 19–May 1, 2010
A delegation of professionals specializing in forestry has been selected to participate in bilateral exchanges with their professional counterparts in China, under the auspices of People to People Ambassador Programs.
Proposed Itinerary
The preliminary mission statement and direction for the delegation have been defined initially by both the delegation leader and our overseas planning team. The initial topics of discussion are listed below. These will be further refined as the delegation is formed to incorporate delegates’ specialized areas of interest and expertise. You will be asked to provide a brief biography and specify your particular areas of interest for this delegation; your input will be used to customize the professional meetings.
- Forest education in China
- Chinese medicine and forest products
- Urban forests: challenges and successes
- Biodiversity conversation
- Recovery programs for giant pandas and snow leopards
- Forest-dwelling birds in China
- Maintaining biodiversity while meeting the needs of people
- Strategies used to conserve ecosystems (e.g., selection and maintenance of protected areas, modification of forestry practices)
- Dealing with forest fire and flood prevention and emergencies
A final, detailed itinerary will be provided approximately 30 days prior to departure.
The professional counterparts you meet throughout the program will be invited to join the delegation for a meal to allow further interaction with your hosts.
CHINA
Ancient traditions converge with modern life throughout this exotic country. From bustling cities to rural villages to the top of the Great Wall, you will discover a warm and joyful society, where family and honor play meaningful roles. This mix of ancient culture and contemporary practices makes visiting China one of the most intriguing adventures you’ll ever experience.
Monday, Day 1: Depart for Beijing
Depart from the domestic gateway city.
Tuesday, Day 2: Beijing
Cross the International Date Line.
Wednesday, Day 3: Beijing
Transit via Hong Kong early this morning and continue your journey onward to Beijing. Arrive in Beijing, and take advantage of your free time by exploring the city that amasses this country’s greatest collection of Imperial-era monuments and treasures. Beijing also serves as the political and executive center of the People’s Republic of China.
Thursday, Day 4: Beijing
Morning Program Briefing: Discuss the political and cultural diversity of China and receive further information on the delegation.
Afternoon Professional Meeting (discussion topics will be finalized as the delegation forms)
Guest program:
Visit the Temple of Heaven. Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties visited these impressive structures to offer annual prayers to heaven for a plentiful harvest.
Friday, Day 5: Beijing
Morning and Afternoon Professional Meetings (discussion topics will be finalized as the delegation forms)
Guest program:
Spend time with a family in the old hutong area. Gain an understanding of how the locals really live by immersing yourself in their daily lives, if only for a short time. Next explore the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China. The Summer Palace has been an urban oasis for the last 800 years and was restored to its original splendor in the early 20th century.
Saturday, Day 6: Beijing
Delegates and guests will enter the Forbidden City (Imperial Palace), whose massive stone walls and 9,999 rooms were once the residence of Ming and Qing emperors, and visit Tian’anmen Square, the large plaza that has been the site of several key events in Chinese history.
The mysteries of construction and conquest have drawn people to the Great Wall of China for nearly 2,000 years. Enjoy breathtaking views from the wall’s high vantage points, and meander along a section set in a rugged, mountainous landscape.
TIBET
While still technically under Chinese control, the people of the Tibet Autonomous Region have stubbornly held to their ancient ways of life. Visitors find themselves struck breathless by the stunning Himalayan landscapes and charmed by the people of this remarkable country.
Sunday, Day 7: Beijing to Lhasa
Transfer to Lhasa, Tibet, and spend the afternoon acclimating to the increased elevation. Lhasa, the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region, is the political, economic, and cultural center of the region. It is home to many historical and scenic sites in both its urban and more rural areas.
Monday, Day 8: Lhasa
Delegates and guests will transfer via rickshaws from the hotel to the magnificent Potala Palace. The 13-story, 1,000-room citadel housed the headquarters of the former church-state of Tibet. It also served as home to a succession of dalai lamas before opening to the public as a museum and site of holy pilgrimage.
Visit the amazing Jokhang Temple on Barhkor Street, the spiritual center of Tibet. Pilgrims travel long distances to visit the temple, some even progressing prostrate to the temple’s threshold. You might observe worshippers filling flickering lamps with yak butter, or honoring the Buddha with white scarves
Delegates and guests will wander down Barkhor, a circular street at the center of Old Lhasa and the oldest street in a very traditional city. Tibetan culture, religion, and arts coalesce here into an assemblage worthy of the finest museum.
Tuesday, Day 9: Lhasa
Morning Professional Meeting (discussion topics will be finalized as the delegation forms)
Guest program:
Visit the Tibet Museum in the Norbulingkha palaces this morning. The country’s first modern museum features handwritten Tibetan classics, colorful thangka paintings, musical and ritual instruments, and unique handicrafts and pottery.
In the afternoon, delegates will join guests to visit the Sera Monasteries and a local village. The Sera Monasteries, founded in 1419, are monastic universities dedicated to the religious education of Buddhist monks. Learn their fascinating history and a little of the theory behind the lifestyle. Experience the life of a Tibetan townsperson while visiting a local village.
Wednesday, Day 10: Lhasa
Morning and Afternoon Professional Meetings (discussion topics will be finalized as the delegation forms)
Guest program:
Visit the Provincial Museum, built in 1991 in the style of a traditional Chinese palace. More than 2,000 ancient artifacts depict the evolution and development of Chinese civilization. After lunch, guests will be taken to a local nunnery. This small, active nunnery, the only one within the precincts of the old Tibetan quarter, probably dates back to the seventh century.
After lunch at the hotel, visit the Drepung Monastery. The largest and richest monastery in Tibet, Drepung lies in the shadow of Mt. Gambo Utse. At its peak, it had a registration of more than 10,000 monks. Many lamas studied in this monastery noted for its academic excellence.
Thursday, Day 11: Lhasa to Chengdu
Depart Lhasa for Chengdu, China. Chengdu, traditionally a center for handicrafts and brocades, is still known in China for its fine silks, bamboo products, and herbal medicines. The chief cultural center of southwestern China, it is the home of Sichuan opera, a local tradition for close to 2,000 years.
Friday, Day 12: Chengdu
Delegates and guests will observe both giant (black and white) and lesser (red) pandas in the large, natural environs of the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center. Learn about the facility’s panda reintroduction programs. The giant panda originated in Sichuan Province, making Chengdu one of the best panda habitats in the world and home to over 85% of the wild panda population.
Afternoon Professional Meeting (discussion topics will be finalized as the delegation forms)
Guest program:
Chengdu is known as a center for entertainment and sophisticated cuisine. On Jinli Street, soak in the city's relaxed atmosphere at stalls and shops boasting delicious foods and art of every type, from embroidery to shadow puppets.
Saturday, Day 13: Depart for Home
Program Extensions
Optional Pre-program Extension to Hong Kong
Optional Post-program Extension to Shanghai
Please inquire for further information upon registration
We work diligently to ensure that the activities described here are available on your program. In rare cases, scheduling conflicts, delays, weather, or circumstances beyond our control may result in program changes. If substitution is required, we make every effort to feature comparable events to retain the content and quality of the program.
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